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PCB might hire foreign security experts

The PSL will feature five franchises with a pool of 30 overseas players.

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board is considering the option of hiring foreign security experts to set up the security plan for the forthcoming Pakistan Super League T20 tournament which begins from March. A top official in the PSL secretariat confirmed that there was a proposal to hire foreign security experts to not only coordinate the security plan for the league but also ensure that ICC anti-corruption measures were put in place for the event which begins from March 26.

"We will be in touch with the ICC to invite their anti-corruption unit officers to Pakistan to satisfy themselves that the league is well guarded against corrupt elements," said the official. "The proposal to have foreign security experts is being looked into keeping in mind that most of the T20 leagues being held these days have input for their security plans from foreign experts. We are looking into hiring these same people because of their prior experience," he said.

The official said the proposal to have foreign security experts was being looked into also to send a clear message to the overseas players and cricket world that security measures for the league will be top class. The PSL will feature five franchises with a pool of 30 overseas players to be available for signing on by these franchise teams.

The Pakistan Cricket Board is already apprehensive about the process of convincing foreign players to come to Pakistan and their respective boards to clear them for the PSL. "The statement coming from England from the professional players association is one indication about the difficulties we will face in this regard," the official said.

The players association representative in England has said they would ask counties to not give NOCs to players for the PSL because of security concerns about playing in Pakistan. Sources said that the PCB is already in touch with other boards to convince them to support the PSL and make it a success.

"Haroon Lorgat, the former CEO of the ICC, who has been hired by the PCB is also playing a role in contacting other boards and trying to convince them to allow their players to play in the PSL," he said.